Consider Hiring Professional Help

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Consider Hiring Professional Help

Even with the entire family pitching in around the house, if finances allow, bringing in an occasional cleaning service or a periodic housekeeper can free up a lot of time and energy. The housekeeper can do the heavy or complicated jobs kids aren't able to do and you don't have time to do. I highly recommend it.
Ask your acquaintances if they know of a housekeeper who's trustworthy and thorough. If you have to resort to the phone book or an advertisement in your neighborhood, be sure to check the references.
I have a friend who lived far from family when she had her first child. She returned to work full-time but refused to hire a housekeeper even though there was enough money in the family budget. She said that every time she brought someone in, that person didn't do as good a job as she could do herself. She figured, why pay someone to do a worse job than she could do?
She tried to keep her demanding job, an immaculate house, and nurture a new baby and her relationship with her husband, but it was simply exhausting. Everything began to unravel within a few months.
She and her husband ended up quitting their jobs and moving closer to family. They are both doing well now, but when I think of all the needless stress they went through because she was unwilling to accept "mediocre" help, it makes me consider how different things could have been.